Daf 218a (דַּף רי״ח ע״א)

He said to him (אָמַר לֵיהּ): And from here, as it is written (וּמֵהָכָא, דִּכְתִיב), “For our days upon earth are a shadow” (כִּי צֵל יָמֵינוּ עֲלֵי אָרֶץ) (Job 8). He said to him: All these things that you requested, I will do (אָמַר לֵיהּ, כָּל אִלֵּין מִלִּין דְּאַתְּ בָּעֵי עֲבִידְנָא). But I request from you (אֲבָל בָּעִינָא מִינָךְ), that in that world, you prepare my place beside you, just as we were in this world (דִּבְהַהוּא עַלְמָא, תְּבָרִיר דּוּכְתָּאי גַּבָּךְ, כְּמָה דַהֲוֵינָא בְּהַאי עַלְמָא).

Rabbi Yitzḥak wept and said (בָּכָה רִבִּי יִצְחָק וְאָמַר): Please, do not separate from me all these days (בְּמָטוּ מִינָךְ, דְּלָא תִּתְפָּרֵשׁ מִנָּאי כָּל אִלֵּין יוֹמִין). They went to Rabbi Shim‘on (אֲזְלוּ לְגַבֵּיהּ דְּרִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן), and found him engaged in Orayta (אַשְׁכְּחוּהוּ דְּהֲוָה לָעֵי בְּאוֹרַיְּיתָא). Rabbi Shim‘on lifted his eyes (זָקִיף עֵינוֹי רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן), and saw Rabbi Yitzḥak (וְחָמָא לְרִבִּי יִצְחָק), and saw the Angel of Death running before him and dancing before him (וְחָמָא לְמַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת דְּרָהִיט קַמֵּיהּ, וְרָקִיד קַמֵּיהּ).

Rabbi Shim‘on arose and grasped the hand of Rabbi Yitzḥak (קָם רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, אָחִיד בִּידֵיהּ דְּרִבִּי יִצְחָק). He said: I decree, whoever is accustomed to enter - may enter (אָמַר, גּוֹזַרְנָא, מַאן דְּרָגִיל לְמֵיעַל, יֵעוּל); and whoever is not accustomed to enter - shall not enter (וּמַאן דְּלָא רָגִיל לְמֵיעָאל, לָא יֵיעוּל). Rabbi Yitzḥak and Rabbi Yehudah entered (עָאלוּ רִבִּי יִצְחָק וְרִבִּי יְהוּדָה), and the Angel of Death was tied and cast outside (קָטִיר מַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת לְבַר).

Rabbi Shim‘on looked and saw that the time had not yet arrived (אַשְׁגַּח רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, וְחָמָא דְּעַד כְּעַן לָא מָטָא עִדָּנָא), for the time was until the eighth hour of the day (דְּהָא עַד תְּמַנְיָא שַׁעְתֵּי דְּיוֹמָא הֲוָה זִמְנָא). He sat him before Rabbi Shim‘on (אוֹתְבֵיהּ קַמֵּי רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן), and was engaging him in Orayta (וְהֲוָה לָעֵי לֵיהּ בְּאוֹרַיְּיתָא).

Rabbi Shim‘on said to Rabbi El‘azar his son (אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן לְרִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרִיהּ): Sit at the entrance (תִּיב אֲפִתְחָא), and whoever you see - do not speak with him (וּמַאן דְּתֶחמֵי, לָא תִשְׁתָּעֵי בַּהֲדֵיהּ). And if one seeks to enter here, say a word that he may not enter (וְאִי יִבְעֵי לְמֵיעָאל הָכָא, אוֹמֵי אוֹמָאָה דְּלָא לֵיעוֹל).

Rabbi Shim‘on said to Rabbi Yitzḥak p4-18(אָמַר רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן לְרִבִּי יִצְחָק): Did you see the likeness of your father today or not? (חָמִית דִּיוּקְנָא דְּאֲבוּךְ יוֹמָא דָּא, אוֹ לָא). For we have learned (דְּהָא תָּנִינָן): at the time when a person departs from this world (בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְּבַר נָשׁ אִסְתַּלַּק מֵעַלְמָא), his father and his relatives are found there with him (אֲבוֹי וּקְרֵיבוֹי מִשְׁתַּכְּחִין תַּמָּן עִמֵּיהּ), and he sees them and recognizes them (וְחָמָא לוֹן וְאִשְׁתְּמוֹדַע לוֹן).

And all those who were his associates in that world, in the same degree (וְכָל אִינוּן דְּהֲוָה מְדוֹרֵיהּ גַּבַּיְיהוּ בְּהַהוּא עַלְמָא בְּדַרְגָּא חַד), they all gather and are found with him (כֻּלְּהוּ מִתְכַּנְּשֵׁי וּמִשְׁתַּכְּחֵי עִמֵּיהּ), and they go with his Neshamah until the place it shall dwell (וְאָזְלִין עִם נִשְׁמָתֵיהּ עַד אֲתַר דְּתִשְׁרֵי בְּאַתְרֵיהּ). He said: Until now I have not seen (אָמַר: עַד כְּעָן לָא חָמֵינָא).

Meanwhile, Rabbi Shim‘on arose and said (אַדְּהָכִי קָם רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן וְאָמַר): Master of the world! Let Rabbi Yitzḥak be revealed to us - and he is from those seven eyes that are here (מָארֵי דְעַלְמָא, אִשְׁתְּמוֹדַע רִבִּי יִצְחָק לְגַבָּן, וּמֵאִנּוּן שִׁבְעָה עַיְינִין דְּהָכָא הוּא). Behold, I have held him - give him to me (הָא אֲחִידְנָא בֵּיהּ, וְהַב לִי). A voice went forth and said (נָפַק קָלָא וְאָמַר): “The throne - Some say: vessel - of the Master is resting upon the wings of Rabbi Shim‘on” (כּוּרְסְיָיא (ס״א: טְסִיסָא דְּמָארֵיהּ קְרִיבָא בְּגַדְפוֹי דְּרִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן), “this is yours, and he shall be with you at the time when you shall sit upon your throne” (הָא דִּידָךְ הוּא, וְעִמָּךְ תַּיֵּיתֵיהּ בְּזִמְנָא דְּתִיעוֹל לְמִשְׁרֵי בְּכוּרְסְיָךְ). Rabbi Shim‘on said: Indeed (אָמַר רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן: וַדַּאי).

Meanwhile, Rabbi El‘azar saw that the Angel of Death was departing (אַדְּהָכִי, חָמָא רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר דְּהֲוָה אִסְתַּלִּיק מַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת). He said: “There is no entry key to the trap where Rabbi Shim‘on ben Yochai dwells” (וְאָמַר: לֵית קוּפְטְרָא דְּטִיפְסָא בְּאֲתַר דְּרִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי שְׁכִיחַ).

Rabbi Shim‘on said to Rabbi El‘azar his son (אָמַר רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן לְרִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרֵיהּ): Enter here and take hold of Rabbi Yitzḥak (עוּל הָכָא, וְאָחִיד בֵּיהּ בְּרִבִּי יִצְחָק), for I see he is fearful (דְּהָא חָמֵינָא בֵּיהּ דְּמִסְתָּפֵי). Rabbi El‘azar entered and took hold of him (עָאל רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, וְאָחִיד בֵּיהּ). And Rabbi Shim‘on turned his face and engaged in Orayta (וְרִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אַהֲדַר אַנְפֵּיהּ וְלָעֵי בְּאוֹרַיְּיתָא).

Rabbi Yitzḥak fell asleep (נַיִים רִבִּי יִצְחָק), and he saw his father (וְחָמָא לְאֲבוֹי). He said to him (אָמַר לֵיהּ): My son, fortunate is your portion in this world and in the World to Come (בְּרִי, זַכָּאָה חוּלָקָךְ בְּעָלְמָא דֵין וּבְעָלְמָא דְאָתֵי). For between the branches of the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden (דְּהָא בֵּין טַרְפֵּי אִילָנָא דְּחַיֵּי דְּגִינְתָא דְעֵדֶן), is placed a mighty and great Tree extending through both worlds (אִתְיְהִיב אֵת יָתֵיב אִילָנָא רַבָּא וְתַקִּיף בִּתְרֵין עָלְמִין), that is Rabbi Shim‘on ben Yochai (רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי הוּא).

For he has taken hold of you in his branches - fortunate is your portion, my son (דְּהָא הוּא אָחִיד לָךְ בְּעַנְפוֹי, זַכָּאָה חוּלָקָךְ בְּרִי). He said to him: Father, and what of me - what is there for me there? (אָמַר לֵיהּ: אַבָּא, וּמָה אֲנָא הָתָם). He said to him: Three days ago they arranged the Idra of your rest (אָמַר לֵיהּ: תְּלַת יוֹמִין הֲווּ דְּחָפוּ אִדְרָא דְּמִשְׁכָּבָךְ), and they prepared for you radiant pathways opened to shine upon you from the four directions of the world (וְתַקִּינוּ לָךְ כֵּיוַן פְּתִיחָן, לְאַנְהָרָא לָךְ מֵאַרְבַּע סִטְרִין דְּעָלְמָא). And I have seen your place and rejoiced (וְאֲנָא חָמֵינָא דּוּכְתֵּיךְ וְחָדֵינָא), saying: Fortunate is your portion, my son (דַּאֲמֵינָא: זַכָּאָה חוּלָקָךְ בְּרִי).

Except that until now, you had not yet merited in Orayta (בַּר דְּעַד כְּעָן, בְּרָךְ לָא זָכֵי בְּאוֹרַיְּיתָא). But now, twelve Righteous, Friends, are prepared to come to you (וְהָא הַשְׁתָּא הֲוֵי זְמִינִין לְמֵיתֵי גַבָּךְ, תְּרֵיסַר צַדִּיקִיָּיא דְּחַבְרַיָּיא), and while I was coming forth, a voice awakened throughout all the worlds (וְעַד דַּהֲוֵינָא נָפְקֵי, אִתְעַר קָלָא בְּכֻלְּהוּ עָלְמִין): “Who are the Friends - Some say: pathways - that stand here?” (מַאן חַבְרִין (ס״א שְׁבִילִין דְּקָיְימִין הָכָא) They were crowned for the sake of Rabbi Shim‘on (אִתְעֲטָרוּ, בְּגִינֵיהּ דְּרִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן). He asked a question, and it was answered to him (שְׁאֶלְתָּא שָׁאִיל, וְאִתְיְהִיב לֵיהּ). And not this alone (וְלָא דָא בִּלְחוֹדוֹי), for seventy places are crowned here for him (דְּהָא שִׁבְעִין דּוּכְתֵּי מִתְעַטְּרָן הָכָא דִּילֵיהּ). And each and every place (וְכָל דּוּכְתָּא וְדוּכְתָּא) opens a gateway to seventy worlds (פָּתְחִין פְּתִיחָן לְשִׁבְעִין עָלְמִין). And each and every world is opened to seventy pathways (וְכָל עַלְמָא וְעַלְמָא אִתְפַּתַּח לְע׳ רְהִיטִין). And each and every pathway opens to seventy supernal Keterin (וְכָל רְהִיטָא וּרְהִיטָא, אִתְפַּתַּח לְשִׁבְעִין כִּתְרִין עִלָּאִין).

And from there paths were opened to the concealed Atika of all (וּמִתַּמָּן אִתְפַּתָּחוּ אָרְחִין לְעַתִּיקָא סְתִימָאָה דְּכֹלָּא), to behold that supernal sweetness that radiates and benefits all (לְמֶחֱמֵי בְּהַהוּא נְעִימוּתָא עִלָּאָה דְּנָהֲרָא, וּמְהַנְיָא לְכֹלָּא), as it is said: “To behold the sweetness of Hashem and to visit His sanctuary” (כְּמָה דְּאַתְּ אָמֵר, לַחֲזוֹת בְּנוֹעַם יי וּלְבַקֵּר בְּהֵיכָלוֹ) (Psalms 27). What is “[and to] visit His sanctuary”? (מַהוּ וּלְבַקֵּר בְּהֵיכָלוֹ) - That which is written: “In all My house, he is faithful” (הַיְינוּ דִּכְתִיב, בְּכָל בֵּיתִי נֶאֱמָן הוּא) (Numbers 12).

He said to him: Father, how much time has been given to me in this world? (אָמַר לֵיהּ, אַבָּא, כַּמָּה זִמְנָא יְהִיבוּ לִי בְּהַאי עָלְמָא). He said to him: I have no permission, and it is not revealed to man (אָמַר לֵיהּ, לֵית לִי רְשׁוּתָא וְלָא מוֹדָעֵי לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ). But on the great celebration of Rabbi Shim‘on, your throne shall be prepared (אֲבָל בְּהִלּוּלָא רַבָּא דְּרִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, תְּהֵא מְתַקֵּן פָּתוֹרֵיהּ), as it is said: “Go forth and see, daughters of Tziyon, the King Shlomo with the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding and the day of his heart’s joy” (כְּמָה דְּאַתְּ אָמֵר, צְאֶינָה וּרְאֶינָה בְּנוֹת צִיּוֹן בַּמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה בָּעֲטָרָה שֶׁעִטְּרָה לוֹ אִמּוֹ בְּיוֹם חֲתוּנָתוֹ וּבְיוֹם שִׂמְחַת לִבּוֹ) (Shir HaShirim 3). Meanwhile, Rabbi Yitzḥak awoke, and was smiling, and his face was radiant (אַדְּהָכִי אִתְעַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק, וְהֲוָה חָיִיךְ, וְאַנְפּוֹי נְהִירִין). Rabbi Shim‘on saw and looked upon his face (חָמָא רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, וְאִסְתַּכֵּל בְּאַנְפּוֹי). He said to him: A new word you have heard (אָמַר לֵיהּ, מִלָּה חַדְתָּא שְׁמַעְתָּא). He said to him: Indeed (אָמַר לֵיהּ, וַדַּאי). He told him everything (סָח לֵיהּ), and prostrated before Rabbi Shim‘on (אִשְׁתַּטַּח קַמֵּיהּ דְּרִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן).